Sterling Responds to Charges Ahead of NBA Vote

NEW YORK (AP) — Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling responded to the NBA’s attempt to oust him on Tuesday, arguing that there is no basis for stripping him of his team because his racist statements were illegally recorded “during an inflamed lovers’ quarrel in which he was clearly distraught.”

According to the response, obtained and posted by USA Today, Sterling says V. Stiviano recorded him without his knowledge and thus the recording was illegal under California law. He also said he could not have “willfully” damaged the league because he did not know it would be made public.

“A jealous rant to a lover never intended to be published cannot offend the NBA rules,” the response says.

Meanwhile, the attorney for Shelly Sterling confirmed that Donald Sterling has given her written permission to sell the team. According to a person who is in contact with a potential bidder, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the process publicly, the Clippers are seeking binding bids before next Tuesday.

NBA owners are scheduled to meet that afternoon in New York. The league said in a statement Tuesday that if owners voted to sustain the charge, “the Sterlings’ interests in the Clippers will be terminated and the team will be sold.”

That requires a three-quarters vote by the 30 owners.

The NBA charged Sterling with damaging the league and its merchandising partners and the league’s constitution gave him until the end of Tuesday to respond.